Pinpointing the exact causes of wars can be hazardous. Most
conflicts are thought to be of ethnic origin. However, at a
closer look, history tells a different story. Religious elements
are the most common reason for most conflicts around the world—faithfully
fueled by a belief in something you cannot see—a god.

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Research shows us that since 3600 B.C., there have been 14,531
wars resulting in 3 billion deaths. Peace has only prevailed
for a total of 292 years on earth. That is about 5 percent
of the time since 3600 B.C. At any given time, there has been
40-100 wars going on somewhere in the world. In the closing
year of the 20th century, a group of religious leaders have
tried to do something about the madness.

In October 1999, leaders from the Buddhist, Protestant, Catholic
and Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths met
in Geneva Switzerland. They issued a document, The Geneva
Spiritual Appeal, asking politicians, religious leaders, and
organizations to enforce that religion not be accepted as
justification for violence. It was an astonishing attempt,
since it has been a 6000-year long tradition to glorify war
with the aid of deities.

Another variable that contributes a world in flames is the
arms trade. The economic importance of the arms trade is underscored
by the table, below. Many of these nations, depicted in the
table below, contradict themselves saying that they are nations
of peace given that they make business of selling armaments
to warring religious and political powers around the world.